Public Performance Rights (PPR) are the legal rights to publicly show a film or video (media). Normally the media producer or distributor manages these rights. The rights-holder can assign PPR to others through a Public Performance License.

When are Public Performance Rights Required?

PPR are required for:

All screenings of copyrighted media to audiences outside of regular curriculum. Examples:

Student club events

Extracurricular sponsored events such as general lectures

Film series

PPR are not required for:

Home viewing

Screening media in the context of face-to-face teaching in the service of regular curricula

Showing media, whether borrowed from the library or rented / purchased, to groups outside of the classroom may be illegal, and may place the University at risk legally.

Does ASU Libraries purchase videos with Public Performance Rights?

Since ASU Libraries acquires media to support the curriculum, and face-to-face teaching is exempt from PPR, ASU Libraries does not typically secure PPR with video purchases. However, many distributors of our educational videos include PPR in the purchase price, which means these videos can be shown anywhere to anyone.

How can you tell if a video from ASU Libraries has Public Performance Rights?

Videos in the ASU Libraries collection with PPR include a note in the “Summary” field of the catalog record: Includes Public Performance Rights (see below)

Media librarian deg farrelly (mailto link deg.farrelly@asu.edu) can assist in identifying titles in the ASU Libraries collections that have PPR.

Securing Public Performance Rights

Individuals and organizations are responsible for obtaining performance rights for all publicly screened media.